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[travelmonster]

Yep, that is mostly true about the quick dry stuff (unless you are prepared to pay a fortune, which I'm not) - but it packs down really small, its lightweight and if you took ordinary clothes you'd have to take loads of them because you wouldn't be able to dry them - also due to the fact that you sweat - a lot - in the jungle all your clothes would end up wet anyway and you wouldn't be able to dry them properly.

Plus noones really looking how you dress (most people who go wear similar sorts of things).

[starlagurl]

Yeah, I understand. I'll see what happens when I go to the jungle. I'm trying my best to underpack again.

[starlagurl]

Rain gear though, if you are going somewhere that will have sub-zero (Celsius) temperatures is definitely necessary. Or else you'll get hypothermia and die....

[helenbels]

I learnt a packing lesson going to Spain last week - I over pack. I had the smallest suitcase but even that was 16kg. For a week! There was seven books in there though! I thought that I had paked quite conservatively but I would have been able to get back with a couple of bikinis and cover-ups, a pair of shorts, a skirt and a couple of vests.

It is quite good that I did overpack though as I will be taking every item into consideration when I start packing for my big trip round America and Canada in a week or two.

The problem that I am finding with packing for America and Canada is that there is going to be such a difference in climates as I go round. Warm in NY to start, cold in Northern Canada, warmer as I make my way down the West coast of the States and then cold back in NY for Thanksgiving. I suppose that I am going to need lots of layers!

[helenbels]

2 sets of clothes for warm weather.
2 sets of clothes for cold weather.

Sorted.

Simple, but possibly effective. Don't know if I could manage with one set on and one set in the wash/drying. I;m going to be moving around or on trains a lot, so I won't have that much opportunity for washing and drying. Maybe three of each?!

[helenbels]

For cold weather, consider a set of silk thermals. They are as warm or warmer than your average thermals. They are so soft and light you can layer them with no fussiness and they dry easily overnight. The shirt can be worn alone or layered. I LOVE mine! I got them from llbean.com.

Ta for the tip - I will look into that. Anyone know anywhere in NYC or Toronto that might sell them? Seems like the kind of thing that might be cheaper and easier to pick up over the pond.

[starlagurl]

Hmmm, I don't know if I would buy a strangers underwears! Just go to Mountain Equipment Co-op when you get here.

Are you coming to Ottawa? When are you going to be in Toronto? I think I smell another Toronto road trip....

[starlagurl]

Silk thermals... aren't those just longjohns??? I like to have my own longjohns...

[starlagurl]

Yeah, so don't buy used ones! Eek!

[helenbels]

I wasn't planning on buying used ones! What gave you that impression? Ick!

I just after the names of some shops that I could buy them from in the States or Canada.

I will be in Toronto from 8th - 16th October I think. Might be having some trips out and around though while I am based there so Ottowa is a definate possibility.

[starlagurl]

Ohhhhhhhhhh, hahaha I read "anywhere" as "anyone" sorry sorry.

I just got the heeblie jeeblies thinking about wearing somebody else's longjohns and posted too quickly.

[helenbels]

LOL! No, not tightened the budget that much that I need second-hand undercrackers quite yet!

[travelmonster]

LOL! No, not tightened the budget that much that I need second-hand undercrackers quite yet!

thanks for brightening my day!

[helenbels]

My last trip I was on a train travelling to a new destination every 2 days but still managed to do a wash at every stop easily. You just wash in the sink quickly as soon as you reach destination and they tend to dry over night if you have te right type of clothes. Surely you'll have at least one full day in each stop, if you can hang them out a window or on a balcony then you'll have no issue at all.

It is more that I am going to be on the train solidly for two or three days at a time (and not in a sleeper carriage either - I am either very hardcore, or very stupid...). I can wash when I stop at the destination, but I think that I need enough knickers for the duration of the journey - not sure that my fellow passengers will appreciate my hanging them over the back of my chair to dry after I have washed them in the sink! ... or maybe they would...

[starlagurl]

This made me think of this thread: http://eurosatemydollars.com/2008/06/23/ho...hile-traveling/

[helenbels]

That blog is great Starla! Good tips.

Steve: I have a three day journey from Winnipeg to Churchill, two days there and then three days back. I have forsaken the sleeper carriage (very, very expensive!) so that I can afford to stay in a dogsledding inn and go out on a tundra buggy to spot polar bears. Might be driven to checking out the price for upgrading to a sleeper on the way back though or I might not get back on the train if the journey up is as uncomfortable as I think it might be! It isn't as though I will be in a third class train across India on wooden seats or anything though - should be cushiony goodness.

At least I won't be too sweaty as I imagine it will be cold up there! But ta for the tip about the swim shorts, I will remember that for SE Asia next year.

[travelmonster]

so that I can afford to stay in a dogsledding inn and go out on a tundra buggy to spot polar bears.

Oh my goodness, so exciting - I am totally envious!!! It's on my list....... take loads of photos!!! I wanna see em.

[helenbels]

Have bought brand new ultra-zoomy camera for just this purpose, so photos will be in their hundreds I imagine!

[sianeth]

My last trip I was on a train travelling to a new destination every 2 days but still managed to do a wash at every stop easily. You just wash in the sink quickly as soon as you reach destination and they tend to dry over night if you have te right type of clothes. Surely you'll have at least one full day in each stop, if you can hang them out a window or on a balcony then you'll have no issue at all.

It is more that I am going to be on the train solidly for two or three days at a time (and not in a sleeper carriage either - I am either very hardcore, or very stupid...). I can wash when I stop at the destination, but I think that I need enough knickers for the duration of the journey - not sure that my fellow passengers will appreciate my hanging them over the back of my chair to dry after I have washed them in the sink! ... or maybe they would...

At Belgian Universities they have a freshers challenge to wear the same clothes for as long as possible. It generally goes on for months on end... I think you can get away with a few days!!

[starlagurl]

That blog is great Starla! Good tips.

Steve: I have a three day journey from Winnipeg to Churchill, two days there and then three days back. \

Oh! It didn't click that you'd be going on Via Rail! Via Rail is fine, you don't need a sleeper car. I've taken the Via across Canada in economy class for three days, and it was just fine. Are you short? You will be much more comfortable if you are short. There are sinks in the bathrooms, so if you have to, you can wash your hair in there. I don't think you'll need to wash your clothes, just as long as you have at least three pairs of underwears and maybe one extra shirt, you should be good.

The sleeper car is WAY more expensive than economy (at least twice the price), so I think you're making the right choice. (I splurged and took it on the way back home though, definitely something to do at least once in your life)